Adjustable ladder



Nov. 7, 1939.

T. F AILLA ADJUSTABLE LADDER Filed March 19. 1938 INVENTOR Patented Nov.7, 1939 UNITED STATES ADJUSTABLELADDER Tony Failla,

Application March 19,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in adjustable ladders, and itsprincipal object is to provide adjustable connecting means adapted to beapplied to two ladders whereby the said ladders 5: may be used as astep-ladder either on a hori Zontal or inclined plane or on steps, andalternatively as an adjustable trestle for use by masons, painters, andinterior decorators, and for many other purposes which will readilyoccur to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates.

In order that my invention may be readily understood, I will nowdescribe a preferred embodiment of the same with reference to theaccompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary sideelevation.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevation.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary diagrammatical view illustrating the detailsof my improved connecting means.

Figure 4 is an elevational view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is an'elevational view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Like characters designate corresponding parts throughout the severalviews.

In the drawing, A, A and B, B represent the side rails of two ladderc,each provided with the respective transverse rungs or steps C, C. To

the upper ends of the side rails A are secured the channel-shapedmembers D which are held in position upon the said rails as by screws D,and upon the inner faces of the said members are the serrated discs D2of circular form, each having a central aperture through which passes abolt D3. Proximate the members D and secured in position by the bolts D3are the brackets E provided on their inner faces with serrated discs Ehaving teeth corresponding to and adapted to engage with the teeth uponthe discs D2. In-

tegral with the brackets E are transverse members E2 upon the outer endsof which are extensions E3, the said extensions being of increased widthat their extremities as indicated at E4 and provided with internallythreaded openings adapted toreceive the threaded ends of thumb screws F.In parallel spaced relation to the extremities E4 are the clampingplates G having apertures through which the thumb screws F 50 pass, sothat rotation of the said thumb screws will cause the said plates tomove nearer to or farther from the extremities E4. To the clamping plateG are secured dowel pins G which slidably engage openings in theextremities E4 55 so as to maintain the clamping plates in properDetroit, Mich.

1938, Serial No. 196,958

alignment with the same. proportioned that the side rails B may beclamped between the members E2 and the plates G by tightening of thethumb screws F, so that the said side rails B may be secured to thebrackets in any 1 position along their length, thus providing means foradjusting the ladder B in relation to the ladder A. At the same time,the co-acting serrated discs D3 and E provide means whereby the laddersA and B may be arranged in anydesired angular relation to one anotherand therein secured by tightening of the bolts D3 through rotation ofthe thumb nuts D4, as will be understood.

Between the clamping plates G and the extremities E4 of the brackets Eare helical compression springs S which surround the dowel pins G, thesaid springs yieldingly pressing the adjacent members apart so as tofacilitate loosening of the brackets upon the side rails B.

It will be observed from the foregoing description and by reference tothe drawing that I have provided means by which any pair of ladders ofstandard width may be connected together in any desirable longitudinalor angular relation, thus forming an adjustable ladder which isapplicable tg a great variety of purposes as above stated, and while Ihave herein described andshown a preferred embodiment of my invention,it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications in detail may be made without departing from the spirit ofmy'invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the'United States is:

1. The combination with a pair of ladders of equal overall width, ofchannel members permanently secured to the side rails of one of saidladders; serrated discs formed integral with the webs of saidchannelmembers; brackets having serrated portions adapted to engage saiddiscs; clamping means integral with said brackets and arranged in offsetrelation thereto in a position in alignment with said channel members,whereby the other of said ladders may be adjusted longitudinallyrelative to said brackets; and bolts passing through said discs and saidbrackets and maintaining the same in varying angular relation.

2. The combination with a pair of ladders of equal overall width ofchannel members permanently secured to the side rails of one of saidladders by screws passing through the flanges of said members; serrateddiscs formed integral with the webs of said channel members; bracketshaving serrated portions adapted to engage said discs;

The brackets are so clamping means integral with said brackets andarranged in offset relation thereto in a position in alignment with saidchannel members, whereby the other of said ladders may be adjustedlongitudinally relative to said brackets; and bolts passing through saiddiscs and said brackets and maintaining the same in varying angularrelation.

3. The combination with a pair of ladders of equal overall width, ofchannel members permanently secured to the side rails of one of saidladders; serrated discs formed integral with the Webs of said channelmembers; brackets having serrated portions adapted to engage said discs;clamping means integral with said brackets and arranged in offsetrelation thereto in a position in alignment with said channel members,whereby the other of said ladders may be adjusted longitudinallyrelative to said brackets; and bolts passing through said discs and saidbrackets and maintaining the same in varying angular relation; saidclamping means comprising flanges integral with said brackets anddisposed at right angles thereto, clamping plates in parallel spacedrelation to said flanges, dowel pins for holding said flanges and saidplates in alignment, and

screw means for tightening said clamping means upon the side rails ofsaid last-named ladder.

4. The combination with a pair of ladders of equal overall width, ofchannel members permanently secured to the side rails of one of saidladders; serrated discs formed integral with the webs of said channelmembers; brackets having serrated portions adapted to engage said discs;clamping means integral with said brackets and arranged in offsetrelation thereto in a position in alignment with said channel member,whereby the other of said ladders may be adjusted longitudinallyrelative to said brackets; and bolts passing through said discs and saidbrackets and maintaining the same in varying angular relation; saidclamping means comprising flanges integral with said brackets anddisposed at right angles thereto, clamping plates in parallel spacedrelation to said flanges, dowel pins for holding said flanges and saidplates in alignment, screw means for tightening said clamping means uponthe side rails of said last-named ladder, and resilient means normallyholding said clamping means in released position.

TONY FAILLA.

